. >> i like pbs, i love big bird. i actually like you, too. but i'm not going to spend money on things -- >> reporter: a wide opening, but the president took more than 14 hours to come up with a comeback. >> thank goodness somebody is finally getting tough on big bird. it's about time. >> reporter: many top democrats suggest that one of the problems, maybe one common to incumbents, the president has lived in a bubble for four years, surrounded by adulation, rarely challenged. the campaign said they were going to conduct a reassessment before the next debate. diane? >> all right, thank you, jake. and what about governor romney and his day? abc's david muir traveling with the governor in virginia. david? >> reporter: diane, great to see you from virginia. mitt romney expected to appear here just moments ago, and beside him, paul ryan celebrating romney's debate last night. tonight, new questions about whether or not romney is trying to modify his message a bit with that much larger audience. starting onto a different denver stage today, mitt rom